Serverless-first development is an approach to building applications that primarily relies on serverless architecture. In this model, developers build applications without needing to manage the underlying servers or infrastructure. Instead of provisioning and maintaining servers, they focus on writing code and deploying it as individual functions or microservices that only run when triggered. This can lead to efficient resource management and can reduce operational overhead, as providers like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud take care of scaling and server maintenance.
One of the key benefits of serverless-first development is cost efficiency. Since you pay only for the compute resources your code actually uses, it can be much cheaper for applications with variable workloads. For instance, an e-commerce site might use a serverless function to process payments, which only runs during peak shopping hours. In contrast, traditional server-based applications may require a continuously running server that incurs costs regardless of usage spikes or lulls. This flexibility makes serverless development appealing for many types of applications, especially those with unpredictable usage patterns.
Moreover, serverless-first development encourages a modular architecture, where developers can build applications as a collection of small, independent functions. This can simplify development, testing, and deployment. For example, a web application might consist of several serverless functions handling user authentication, data storage, and payment processing. By isolating these functions, teams can work on them simultaneously, allowing for faster iteration and updates. Overall, serverless-first development helps developers focus more on creating features and delivering business value instead of managing infrastructure.